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Hugh Rowden, Wells Fargo executive, makes homeownership dreams a reality, Page 5
Carla R. Stewart makes you a believer in ghosts,
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Volume 86 • Issue 14
K. Mitchell hits the road with “Love & Hip Hop New York,”
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Farewell to sports hero and basketball legend Walt Bellamy, Page 9
November 7 - 13, 2013
Reed Soars to Re-election Victory Dickens, Norwood Defeat Incumbents on City Council
Photo by Susan Ross Mayor Reed addresses supporters on election night at an early evening celebration at the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown. By Dion Rabouin ADW Digital Editor Atlanta voters overwhelmingly gave Mayor Kasim Reed their stamp of approval Tuesday night, as the incumbent mayor cruised to a landslide victory over a trio of challengers. Reed received almost 40,000 votes (39,665) in the municipal election while not one of his challengers amassed more than 3,000, according to data from the Fulton County government’s website. Reed defeated mediator Al Bartell, financial planner Fraser Duke and consultant Glenn Wrightson. It was a nonpartisan race and none of the three challengers reported receiving any campaign contributions. Reed reported raising $6 million for his re-election campaign. “Four years ago, all of you had to stay up late for the election results, but tonight you get to go to sleep early,” Reed said at a party at a Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown. “Today the city of Atlanta has given me the high honor of another four years. I promise to give you everything I got for the next four years with all my heart.” So confident was Reed in an eventual triumph that at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning he sent out invitations to “celebrate his re-election victory with supporters and community members.”
Like the mayor’s office, much of the Atlanta City Council will remain unchanged. Council President Ceasar C. Mitchell won victory by a wide margin, defeating challenger Rachele Fruit by nearly 25,000 votes. Council members Carla Smith, Ivory Young Jr., Cleta Winslow, Natalyn Archibong, Alex Wan, Howard Shook, Felicia Moore and Keisha Lance Bottoms also won their contested races easily. Michael Julian Bond, C.T. Martin, Joyce Sheperd, Yolanda Adrean and Kwanza Hall all ran unopposed and will begin new terms. The results for incumbents Aaron Watson and H. Lamar Willis who occupied two of the City Council’s three at-large seats were not as favorable. After starting the night ahead, both Watson and Willis fell behind in their races and never caught up. Watson faced Mary Norwood, who held the District 2 At-Large seat until 2009 when she challenged Reed as mayor in an effort that fell just short. The 2013 election ended with the challenger garnering around 2,600 more votes. Norwood got 53 percent of vote (24,628), with Watson netting 47 percent (22,005). On Wednesday morning, Norwood sent an email to supporters thanking them for their efforts.
“I am so grateful to you all! Our campaign was a tremendous TEAM effort, with Atlantans from all over our city coming together and supporting my return to City Hall to serve you again,” she said in part of the letter. “...WOW! It’s a GREAT DAY, Atlanta! And I’m ready and excited to work for you all again!” In the Council Post 3 At-Large race, Andre Dickens received 53 percent of votes (22,478), with incumbent H. Lamar Willis getting 47 percent (19,993). The race between Dickens, a relative unknown before his candidacy, and Willis had been one of the closest and certainly most hotly contested in the city. Dickens enlisted the help of former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who took Willis to task after he was disbarred by the Georgia Supreme Court in October. Both candidates were also the subject of websites that alleged in detail personal and professional misgivings. Willis’ and Dickens’ campaigns each denied being affiliated with the negative websites. On election night, though, Dickens was all smiles. “We won,” he posted on his campaign Facebook page a little before 2 a.m. “Thanks Atlanta! Thank you so much. #andre4atlanta.”